Avian flu virus makes an alarming comeback
FHM Humayan Kabir | Saturday, 26 February 2011
FHM Humayan Kabir
Bangladesh poultry industry has gone through nearly Taka 1.0 billion in losses due to a fresh onslaught of the avian influenza virus over the last two months, industry people said Friday. Poultry industry leaders said the bird flu has spread to some districts including Dhaka, Gazipur and northern Bogra again over the last two months, dealing a severe blow to the struggling industry. The virus in the last two months has spread to different districts and attacked some 100 poultry farms taking a large toll on the country's major job creating sector, they said. Convener of the National Poultry Coordination Committee Mashiur Continued from page 1 col. 7 Rahman said, "More than 100 farms have been affected so far. According to our assessment, the industry has incurred losses worth over Tk1.0 billion." "The fresh spread of the contagion has pushed the struggling sector into deep trouble making it hard to recover from the previous losses," Mr. Rahman, also chief of the major poultry supplier Paragon Group, told the FE. Poultry, the country's important job-creating sector, has been struggling to recoup its losses from the deadly attack of bird flue in the 2007-2008 period which caused some Tk 45 billion in losses. Bangladesh's poultry industry has witnessed an investment of nearly Tk 120.00 billion ($1.75 billion), where some 3.5 million people are employed directly. Mr. Rahman said: "Some farm owners are selling their affected birds and eggs in the market without informing the attack to the government authorities. It is causing a spread of the deadly flu." The Paragon Group chief suggested the poultry owners to ensure sophisticated bio-security at their farms to check the possible outbreak of the virus. President of the Breeders Association of Bangladesh Kazi Zahidul Hassan said that in a preliminary assessment it was reported that some species of migratory birds are spreading the avian influenza virus in Bangladesh. "The government should have strong monitoring of the migratory birds in place," he said adding the imported chicks and eggs from a neighbouring country should also be examined before their entry into Bangladesh.
Bangladesh poultry industry has gone through nearly Taka 1.0 billion in losses due to a fresh onslaught of the avian influenza virus over the last two months, industry people said Friday. Poultry industry leaders said the bird flu has spread to some districts including Dhaka, Gazipur and northern Bogra again over the last two months, dealing a severe blow to the struggling industry. The virus in the last two months has spread to different districts and attacked some 100 poultry farms taking a large toll on the country's major job creating sector, they said. Convener of the National Poultry Coordination Committee Mashiur Continued from page 1 col. 7 Rahman said, "More than 100 farms have been affected so far. According to our assessment, the industry has incurred losses worth over Tk1.0 billion." "The fresh spread of the contagion has pushed the struggling sector into deep trouble making it hard to recover from the previous losses," Mr. Rahman, also chief of the major poultry supplier Paragon Group, told the FE. Poultry, the country's important job-creating sector, has been struggling to recoup its losses from the deadly attack of bird flue in the 2007-2008 period which caused some Tk 45 billion in losses. Bangladesh's poultry industry has witnessed an investment of nearly Tk 120.00 billion ($1.75 billion), where some 3.5 million people are employed directly. Mr. Rahman said: "Some farm owners are selling their affected birds and eggs in the market without informing the attack to the government authorities. It is causing a spread of the deadly flu." The Paragon Group chief suggested the poultry owners to ensure sophisticated bio-security at their farms to check the possible outbreak of the virus. President of the Breeders Association of Bangladesh Kazi Zahidul Hassan said that in a preliminary assessment it was reported that some species of migratory birds are spreading the avian influenza virus in Bangladesh. "The government should have strong monitoring of the migratory birds in place," he said adding the imported chicks and eggs from a neighbouring country should also be examined before their entry into Bangladesh.